The Policewoman
Encyclopedia
The Policewoman is an independent Portuguese
drama film directed
by Joaquim Sapinho
, produced at Rosa Filmes
.
. Was part of the oficial selection of inumerous film festivals, like the Edinburgh Film Festival or the Pusan Film Festival. Received in the Lecce European Film Festival the award for Best Film and Best Photography.
, Portugal, Sapinho's birthplace. Released in 2003, The Policewoman was shot while Sapinho was in the editing process of his feature documentary Bosnia Diaries, shot a couple of years before in Bosnia
douring the Yugoslav Wars
. Bosnia Diaries would end only be released in 2005, as the two films were post-produced simultaneously, influenciating each other, both in style and theme, being the darkness, realism and harshness of The Policewoman clearly echoes of the Bosnian War
experienced by Sapinho. The experience of war would cause a great change on his vision of the world, leading him, when shoting The Policewoman, to discover in Portugal things he thought had only happened in Bosnia in consequence of the war, making him realize that, after all, they were also happeing in his native town in consequence of the economic transformations imposed by capitalism
via the European Union
.
to avoid being separated by the state institutions that want to take the child away from the mother.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
drama film directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Joaquim Sapinho
Joaquim Sapinho
Joaquim Sapinho is a Portuguese film director. He is also the founder of Rosa Filmes. He was born in Sabugal, Portugal.-Career:Joaquim Sapinho was a student at the Portuguese National Film School, where he is nowadays a professor of directing for cinema.He started as a documentarist for...
, produced at Rosa Filmes
Rosa Filmes
Rosa Filmes is a Portuguese independent motion picture production and distribution company.Founded by Joaquim Sapinho in 1993, Rosa Filmes has produced until now:...
.
Reception
The film had its world premiere in 2003, at the Berlin International Film FestivalBerlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
. Was part of the oficial selection of inumerous film festivals, like the Edinburgh Film Festival or the Pusan Film Festival. Received in the Lecce European Film Festival the award for Best Film and Best Photography.
Production
The Policewoman was shot around SabugalSabugal
Sabugal is a city and a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 822.7 km² and a total population of 14,222 inhabitants[in the municipality] and about 3.000 in the city....
, Portugal, Sapinho's birthplace. Released in 2003, The Policewoman was shot while Sapinho was in the editing process of his feature documentary Bosnia Diaries, shot a couple of years before in Bosnia
Bosnia (region)
Bosnia is a eponomous region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It lies mainly in the Dinaric Alps, ranging to the southern borders of the Pannonian plain, with the rivers Sava and Drina marking its northern and eastern borders. The other eponomous region, the southern, other half of the country is...
douring the Yugoslav Wars
Yugoslav wars
The Yugoslav Wars were a series of wars, fought throughout the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 1995. The wars were complex: characterized by bitter ethnic conflicts among the peoples of the former Yugoslavia, mostly between Serbs on the one side and Croats and Bosniaks on the other; but also...
. Bosnia Diaries would end only be released in 2005, as the two films were post-produced simultaneously, influenciating each other, both in style and theme, being the darkness, realism and harshness of The Policewoman clearly echoes of the Bosnian War
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
experienced by Sapinho. The experience of war would cause a great change on his vision of the world, leading him, when shoting The Policewoman, to discover in Portugal things he thought had only happened in Bosnia in consequence of the war, making him realize that, after all, they were also happeing in his native town in consequence of the economic transformations imposed by capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
via the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.
Plot
The film tells the story of a mother and a son from the interior of Portugal that run away to LisbonLisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
to avoid being separated by the state institutions that want to take the child away from the mother.
Cast
- Amélia Corôa as Tânia
- Luduvic Vieira as Rato
- Maria Silva as Liliana
- Vítor Norte as the Truck Driver
- Ana Nave as the Police Woman
External links
- The Policewoman official page at Rosa Filmes web site (click on "ENG", then on "DIRECTORS", then on "JOAQUIM SAPINHO", then on "THE POLICE WOMAN")
- The Policewoman at IMDb